Year
1834, 1859, 1961Duration
2, 5 & 2 yearsCost
UnknownLocation
United KingdomProject achievements
Connected communities
The purpose of the ferry and bridges make it easier for people to connect.
Economy boosted
Trade, commerce boosted by easier routes to market.
Used engineering skill
How do you cross a wide and important river?
Build a crossing over the river Tamar to move people or vehicles
The Tamar is a river in south west England. It forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall. The area has been important for trade since before medieval times – largely because of tin mining in the region.
There are 24 crossings over the Tamar, including a rail bridge and a ferry. Some of the road bridges date from the 13th century.
Although the Tamar crossings were built many years apart, they are seen as a single civil engineering project as they all have similar goals – moving people and goods around to boost the local economy.
The best-known crossings are:
The Torpoint Ferry
This replaced an existing ferry boat in 1834. The new crossing used steam-powered boats pulling themselves along chains laid on the riverbed.
The Royal Albert Bridge
A wrought-iron railway bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Opening in 1859, it was Brunel's last finished project as he died a few months later.
The Tamar Bridge
Built in 1961, a major road bridge. At 335m long, it's a well-known local landmark.
Did you know …
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The Cornwall Railway Company made the Royal Albert Bridge a memorial to Brunel after his death. Directors had the words 'IK Brunel, engineer, 1859' added in large metal letters to either end of the structure.
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A traditional Cornish tale says that the Devil would never cross the Tamar in case he was turned into a filling in a Cornish pasty.
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The 'Alliterative Morte Arthure', a poem telling the story of King Arthur and dating from around 1400, has a scene set on the Tamar. Arthur is fatally wounded on the river bank in a swordfight with his arch-enemy Mordred.
Difference the crossings have made
The Torpoint Ferry was more reliable than the boats it replaced as they were often slowed down by strong river currents.
The Royal Albert Bridge cut journey times between destinations in Cornwall and Devon.
The Tamar Bridge made crossing the river easier for vehicles at this point. Previously, cars and lorries were forced to detour via a one lane road bridge or use the ferry. The bridge also eased congestion in the area.
How the work was done
The Torpoint Ferry
Constructed by engineer James Meadows Rendel. He'd already had success with a chain ferry crossing the river Dart and used the same method to bridge the Tamar.
Rendel laid iron chains on the Tamar riverbed - steam powered boats used these to pull themselves across. The chains then sank to the bottom to allow other ships and boats up and down the river.
The Royal Albert Bridge
Engineers vertically sank a 10.6m (35ft) diameter wrought-iron cylinder in the middle of the river. This rested on the bedrock with the top just above water level.
Workers used the cylinder to build a 29.2m (96ft) column of masonry high. This column formed the bridge's mid-stream support pier. The wrought iron spans for the bridge were built on shore, then floated out into the river for assembly.
The Tamar Bridge
Was then the longest suspension bridge built in the UK. Engineers constructed 2 concrete towers to support the bridge, each 67m high. Support cables were hoisted over these. They then attached hangers – steel suspender cables – to the support cables.
The road deck was carried out by barge and lifted into place by cranes.
People who made it happen
- James Meadows Rendel, ICE president, designed and built the Torpoint Ferry.
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel, ICE president, designed and built the Royal Albert Bridge.
- Mott, Hay and Anderson designed the Tamar Bridge.
